HJRES 3 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

Latest updateJan 3, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Economics and Public Finance

Sponsor

Vern Buchanan

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

January 3, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

Currently, the U.S. Constitution does not mandate that the federal government balance its budget each fiscal year. The President proposes a budget, and Congress approves it through legislation. There is no constitutional requirement for Congress to balance the budget, and it can increase the national debt limit without a supermajority.

This bill proposes an amendment to the Constitution to require that total outlays for any fiscal year do not exceed total receipts unless two-thirds of Congress approves a specific excess by a rollcall vote. It also sets a cap of 18 percent of the gross domestic product for total outlays, with similar supermajority requirements for exceeding this limit. The President must submit a budget that meets these criteria. Additionally, any bill imposing a new tax or increasing existing taxes requires a two-thirds majority in Congress. The debt limit cannot be increased without a three-fifths majority. Congress can waive these provisions during wartime or serious military threats with a majority vote.

In practice, this amendment would require Congress to vote on any budget that exceeds the outlined limits, potentially leading to more stringent fiscal discipline. The President would need to submit balanced budgets or justify any deficits with a two-thirds congressional approval. Tax increases would become more challenging, and the debt limit would require broader congressional support. Courts would be barred from ordering revenue increases to enforce these provisions. This amendment would take effect five fiscal years after ratification.

Key Provisions

1Section 1 requires that total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall vote.
2Section 2 requires that total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed 18 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States for the calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year, unless two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific amount in excess of such 18 percent by a rollcall vote.
3Section 3 requires the President to transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts and total outlays do not exceed 18 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States for the calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year.
4Section 4 requires any bill that imposes a new tax or increases the statutory rate of any tax or the aggregate amount of revenue to pass only by a two-thirds majority of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress by a rollcall vote.
5Section 5 requires the limit on the debt of the United States shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

★ Why this matters

If this bill passes, it would fundamentally alter the way the federal government operates by imposing strict fiscal constraints. Congress would need to ensure that annual budgets do not exceed revenues, which could lead to more rigorous budget planning and potentially reduce the national debt. The President would be required to submit balanced budgets or seek congressional approval for any deficits. Additionally, tax increases would become more difficult to pass, and increasing the debt limit would require a larger majority in Congress. These changes could lead to a more disciplined approach to federal spending and borrowing.

● Who this affects

The most directly affected group would be members of Congress, who would need to adhere to stricter budget constraints and potentially face more challenging decisions regarding tax increases and the national debt limit. The President would also be impacted, as they would need to submit balanced budgets or seek congressional approval for any deficits. The general public could see changes in government services and programs if budget cuts are necessary to meet the new requirements. The financial markets might also react to the increased fiscal discipline, potentially affecting interest rates and borrowing costs.

Bill Text

View on Congress.gov

Show / hide bill text preview

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 3

    Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
                   relative to balancing the budget.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2025

   Mr. Buchanan submitted the following joint resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                            JOINT RESOLUTION

 
    Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
                   relative to balancing the budget.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled   (two-thirds of each House 
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

                              ``Article--

    ``Section 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed 
total receipts for that fiscal year, unless two-thirds of the duly 
chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by law 
for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall vote.
    ``Section 2. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed 18 
percent of the gross domestic product of the United States for the 
calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year, unless 
two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of 
Congress shall provide by law for a specific amount in excess of such 
18 percent by a rollcall vote.
    ``Section 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall 
transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States 
Government for that fiscal year in which--
            ``(1) total outlays do not exceed total receipts; and
            ``(2) total outlays do not exceed 18 percent of the gross 
        domestic product of the United States for the calendar year 
        ending before the beginning of such fiscal year.
    ``Section 4. Any bill that imposes a new tax or increases the 
statutory rate of any tax or the aggregate amount of revenue may pass 
only by a two-thirds majority of the duly chosen and sworn Members of 
each House of Congress by a rollcall vote. For the purpose of 
determining any increase in revenue under this section, there shall be 
excluded any increase resulting from the lowering of the statutory rate 
of any tax.
    ``Section 5. The limit on the debt of the United States shall not 
be increased, unless three-fifths of the duly chosen and sworn Members 
of each House of Congress shall provide for such an increase by a 
rollcall vote.
    ``Section 6. The Congress may waive the provisions of sections 1, 
2, 3, and 5 of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration 
of war against a nation-state is in effect and in which a majority of 
the duly chos…

Auto-Whip

Where House representatives currently stand

Built from official statements, public releases, and voting records where they exist. Members without enough evidence are marked as no position.

448 tracked

Support

448

No Position

Oppose

Support

Members whose public record points toward backing the bill.

No members in this group yet.

Opposition

Members whose public record points toward opposition.

No members in this group yet.

No Position

Members we are still tracking, but without enough public evidence yet.

448

Alma Adams

D-North Carolina · District 12

No position

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations